The Gnomon Workshop offers the most comprehensive set of Digital Production tutorials anywhere. The broad scope of the tutorials contained in this section range from foundational understanding of the software tools all the way to the professional application of these tools and concepts used by artists working in the film and game industries.

Entertainment Design

The Gnomon Workshop is widely regarded as the global leader in training tutorials for the designer working in the entertainment industry. With tutorials ranging from foundational drawing and design concepts to process tutorials from some of the top concept and character designers in the world, there is surely something here to inspire.

Industrial Design

The Gnomon Workshop offers tutorials focused on Industrial Design software and techniques. These tutorials range from product design to vehicle and automotive concept.

Fine Art and Illustration

The Gnomon Workshop also offers a number of tutorials focused on the fine art and illustration fields. Traditional drawing and painting skills are tremendous assets to artists working in the entertainment industry as well as other industries that rely on visual communication skills. Tutorials listed in this section focus on everything from foundational drawing skills, comic book illustration and fantasy painting.

Tattooing

As the tattoo industry has seen an explosion in popularity over the last few years, the need training in this field has also grown. In these video tutorials, some of the top tattoo artists in the world share their techniques and their take on the art of tattoo. The tutorials range from absolute beginner level to advanced color and blending techniques used by some of the world's best.

Software

The Gnomon Workshop offers professional training on most of the software applications used in today's digital pipelines. There are foundational titles to introduce users to the software and tools, as well as advanced production titles that discuss application tools and processes vital to the production of digital assets and media.

The Gnomon Workshop seeks out the most highly-regarded traditional and digital artists and technicians currently working in the entertainment and design industries. Our instructors have shared their practices working at such top studios as Pixar, ILM, Blizzard, and many more.

A Pungent Character

Getting Grit into Imaginary Faces with David Meng

Sample Clip

In this lecture, David Meng shares his thoughts on how he creates personality and expression in a character bust. He will discuss his thought process behind doing an unconventional take on a traditional creature. The practical aspects of working with plastalina and building armatures will also be discussed. Viewers will get to look, from start to finish, at how David creates a physical clay design maquette for the film industry.

Trying to design "sideways"

Materials and Tools

Armature building

Practical techniques and tips for sculpting in plastaline

Creating the major sweep and flow in the forms, establishing attitude from the very beginning

Making a strong design statement with silhouette

Balancing extremes and subtleties in design

Using pose to establish attitude and personality

Using the lines defined by the edges of forms to affect how the viewer "reads" a character, thus giving it "punch"

Methods to keep a fresh eye for your work

Refining sculpture for the purposes of a quick concept maquette

Finding inspiration in unexpected and/or forgotten sources

Introduction

Reference

Tools

Harpie Blocking Part 1

Harpie Blocking Part 2

Harpie Blocking Part 3

Harpie Sculpt

Harpie Finishing

Colonial Finishing

Product Code: DME01

ISBN: 1-59762-773-9

UPC: 805366017910

Duration: 187 minutes

Formats: DVD-ROM, Digital Download, Online Subscription

DVD-ROM Requirements:

1GHz or faster processor

512 MB RAM

64 MB Video RAM

DVD-ROM Drive

5 GB of hard disk space

1280 x 1024 display

DVD-ROM and Digital Download Requirements:

Minimum Operating System:

Microsoft® Windows® Vista®

Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional

Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

Apple® Mac® OS X 10.2

Software:

QuickTime Movie Player (Version 7.0 or higher)

Acrobat Reader (Version 5.0 or higher)

For more information on DVD and Digital Download policies click here here.

David Meng

Creature Designer and Sculptor, Weta

David Meng graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2000, with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Art, and took Dick Smith's Advanced Professional Make-up Course shortly after. Interested in bizarre, funny and grotesque things from a young age, David had a natural leaning towards working as a creature/character designer in the film industry.
David started his career working as a designer/sculptor for various effects houses in LA. In 2004 he was invited to join Weta Workshop in New Zealand, just in time to work on King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia. He spent the next few years working on many of Weta's other projects, most notably District 9. On District 9, David served as Lead Creature Designer for the movie's Prawns. Other films David has worked on include: Alien Vs. Predator, Black Sheep, Under The Mountain, and The Hobbit.
Most recently David worked as part of the concept team that designed the Kaijus for Pacific Rim. His main contribution to the film was the design of the Leatherback Kaiju. David's work has been published in various art-of books and been exhibited at both CoproGallery and The Hive, as well as the Dowse gallery in New Zealand, and also in Shanghai. His work has been included in the internationally renowned publication Spectrum five times (including this year's upcoming edition), and has so far won two Silver awards and one Gold.

Subscription

DVD

Digital Download

"We have been very fortunate to work with a large number of extraordinary creatives in our career here at Weta Workshop. David Meng is one such person possessing of extraordinary creative talent, conceptual thinking ability and superb draughtsmanship - although at his heart David is a fine art sculptor, inventing unique and dark original characters from his ever abundant mind."

- Richard Taylor
Co-founder and Creative Director of Weta Workshop

"Don't let David Meng's youthful appearance fool you - I watched him sculpt for two months in NZ and was blown away by his brilliance. Whether it's his flawless technique, his boundless imagination or his commitment to professionalism, this man will teach you everything and more about sculpting. What you hold in your hand is the product of a Master."

- Wayne Barlowe
Concept Artist

"In this industry where it can become easy to borrow from other artists, Dave Meng has the capacity for genuine original concepts and unique designs. I would recommend his tutorials to anyone who wants to learn a fresh take on the craft."